09/08/2025
**THE BUSINESS THAT GREW AND FAILED**
As I sat alone on my bed, I found myself deep in thought. I realized I couldn't just rely on my salary; it simply wasn't sustainable. I needed another source of income. The infamous words of Andrew Tate echoed in my mind: "YOU ARE A BROKEY." I didn't want to be a brokey. I kept telling myself that as a man, I had to do more. This thought lingered for days, pushing me into a spiral of stress and despair.
One day, while doomscrolling through Facebook, I stumbled upon an ad that caught my eye. It read, "Learn how to shop and import from China for just $10." After giving it some thought, I recalled a piece of advice: investing in knowledge is vital. So, I quickly enrolled in the online class. Although the fee was only $10, it felt like a considerable investment to me, and I knew I had to make the most of it.
For the next two days, I immersed myself in the material. I learned so much—from finding products and communicating with suppliers to shipping goods. I now had the knowledge, but the question remained: what would I import, and to whom would I sell it? The market seemed saturated with Chinese products. I realized I needed something familiar, so I drew from my background as an environmental scientist. My network was filled with environmentalists and SHEQ professionals, leading me to settle on environmental monitoring tools. It wasn't the most exciting choice, but it felt right.
I joined several WhatsApp groups targeted at environmentalists. Although I had no product in hand, the product was already ready in China. I confidently promised delivery within three weeks. I crafted a WhatsApp message to advertise my offerings, which read:
"Hi, my name is Ali, your dedicated China Shopper. I import environmental monitoring tools from China, with a delivery period of 2+ weeks.
The goods include:
- 9-in-1 Gas Analyzers
- pH Meters
- Water Meters
- Dust Meters
- And more!
If you're interested, just drop me a message."
part 2
